A sketch of the stadium, set to open next year. (Click on image for larger file size)

Curtis Jr., he said, “knows where he’s from.”

A lot of the baseball played at the new stadium — which will be completed next year — will be played by kids ages 6 to 18.

So one of the speakers was Bill Haley, director of the Jackie Robinson West Little League.

“This is a combination of a first-class facility and a way to bring young people to a university campus. I think that’s a home run,” Haley said.

The stadium will be home to youth initiatives in partnership with Major League Baseball, the Chicago Public Schools and area youth organizations.

“My mission is to outwork the gangbangers,” said Frank Brim, director of the Garfield Park Little League.

“There are 400 kids in my program, and not one is a gangbanger or drug dealer.”

Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares thanked the Grandersons “for raising such a wonderful son,” adding, “What a great satisfaction it is to have one of our own students come back and give back to his campus.”

“Sports has a special place in our society. Like the arts with inner-city kids, it touches their hearts and minds,” said Ric Estrada, University of Illinois trustee and president of Metropolitan Family Services.

Last year Granderson became the fifth Yankee to hit 40 home runs in back-to-back seasons, joining Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and Jason Giambi.

This season, “the Yankees started to make their move after Curtis came back off the disabled list — now they’re a game-and-a-half or two out of the wild card,” said Jim Schmidt, director of Intercollegiate Athletics.

“That says something about his leadership.”

Correction: the original version of this article reported that the stadium will replace Les Miller Field. The field will remain and the complex will be called Les Miller Field at Curtis Granderson Stadium.